Sunday, January 22, 2017
Dean Faile began his 10th year as president of the Lancaster chamber Thursday night urging the group to relocate its offices to downtown and join in the revitalization of the city’s business core.
Faile spoke to more than 200 chamber members and guests at the group’s largest gathering of the year, the annual meeting, dinner and awards ceremony at USC Lancaster’s Bradley Building.
“It’s time to move the chamber back to the downtown and be a part of the revitalization effort,” Faile told the crowd, saying the county’s leading business organization needs to pick up the pace of change and take advantage of the region’s growth.
He said the chamber moved to its current offices, tucked almost out of sight on Colonial Avenue near North Elementary School, about the time he started working there, leaving a Main Street building that was in poor repair. Now, he said, it’s time to return.
County Economic Development Director Jamie Gilbert and City Administrator Flip Hutfles, both said they favor the move, and talks have just begun about the possibility.
Hutfles said he supports a dual office downtown for the chamber and the new county Economic Development Department.
“This will be a big benefit for the city and the chamber as well, to have a presence downtown,” Hutfles said. “By the end of the summer, downtown should have a different feel as revitalization continues. It’s one little step at a time.”
Currently, the economic development department is located at 1033 W. Meeting St., behind Crown Cinema in a building shared with the Veteran’s Administration.
Gilbert said he agreed with Hutfles. “I think we should be downtown,” he said. “Faile said it best. We should be downtown if we want business to come downtown.
“There is a significant synergy with what the chamber does with work-force development and what we do in the economic development department,” he said.
Another shot in the arm for downtown will be the addition of 521 BBQ. Owner Mike Dial, winner of the Small Business of the Year award Thursday night, plans to open a restaurant at 123 South Main Street this spring.
Dial, who started the restaurant in Indian Land in 2005 and expanded to Tega Cay in 2014, drew huge applause from the room when the award was announced.
“With very little food-service knowledge, this man used common sense and determination to drive his success,” said First Citizens Bank’s Chief Finance Officer Steve Sherrill, who presented the award. “He had several basic tenets: always serve fresh food, always provide great customer service and always treat employees right.”
Sherrill said Dial has done more than just make great barbecue. He has fed volunteers for Kids First, provided dinners for families during the holidays, donated hams to needy families, and even helped an employee pay medical bills.
“I am humbled by it,” said Dial. “I don’t think I really deserve it. I am sure there are other businesses out there who have worked harder and are more deserving.”
The honor of Business Person of the Year went to Susan Rowell, publisher of The Lancaster News. The recipient of this award “must be great at work, great in the community and be a great person,” said presenter Kristen Blanchard. The outgoing chamber chair, Blanchard handed off the group’s leadership to Shaun Barnes, director of external relations at Comporium Communications.
Blanchard said Rowell stands out because “she has been involved in nearly every facet of our nonprofit community, volunteering with the United Way, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, the J. Marion Sims Foundation, the Carolinas Literacy Network, Springs Memorial Hospital, the Women’s Enrichment Center, the Promise Neighborhood Project and mangy other community efforts.”
Rowell has also served as president of the Rotary Club and chair of the chamber, and this year she will take on a national leadership role as chair of the National Newspaper Association.
Rowell gathered her thoughts after a moment of speechlessness.
“I’m honored to live in this community and work in this community and be a part of all this volunteerism, and I love The Lancaster News and The Lancaster News family. It’s because of them that I get to do what I love to do.”
Volunteer of the Year went to Lisa Hallman, also the recipient of Lancaster County School District’s 2016 Teacher of the Year Award.
“On top of all her many volunteer hours and contributions, she was one of the driving forces behind the Lancaster County School District’s bond referendum, which passed successfully,” said Bruce Brumfield, president and CEO of Founders Federal Credit Union.
“I love Lancaster County,” Hallman said. “I’m very honored to serve our people here.”
The Citizenship and Service Award went to Stan Johnson, former CEO of Kanawha Insurance, who has spent more than 30 years in Lancaster devoted to community service.
“Stan Johnson is a man of superior intellect with the motivation of always doing what is right, and he has the good judgment to know what is right,” said T. Thomas, former vice president of Kanawha. “He has given freely and abundantly of his time and energies to his adopted home of Lancaster and been generous with his financial support of many worthwhile endeavors.”
Ambassador of the Year went to Keith Harris, a marketing consultant with Indoff Promotional Products.
“Harris goes above and beyond in everything we ask, always asking what more can I do to help, from attending ribbon cuttings, coordinating meetings, to serving as the chairperson for two chamber committees,” said Janice Dabney, CEO of Springs Memorial Hospital.
The
chamber’s Small Business of the Year award winner Mike Dial gets a
congratulatory hug amid the applause as he makes his way to the front.
Dial is the owner of 521 BBQ and plans to open another restaurant on
Main Street in Lancaster this spring. Below,
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